Almond tree

ABSTRACT

An almond tree which is of medium size and vigor, open, and upright branching habit; sparsely foliated with small, lanceolate, acutely pointed leaves having a finely serrate margin and alternate, reniform glands; blooms heavily with white flowers; and is a regular and heavy producer of medium size, ovate, medium hard, thin shell nuts having small, ovate kernels.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY Field of the Invention

As an agriculturist, and attendant the operation and maintenance of myranch located near Hughson, Stanislaus County, Calif., I frequent suchranch for the purpose of inspection, soil preparation for planting,cultivation, and irrigation, and--against the background of suchactivities--the present variety of almond tree was discovered.

CLASSIFICATION OF THE VARIETY

The present new and distinct variety of almond tree is embraced by Class30, Plants, of the U.S. Patent Office Manual of Classification.

PRIOR VARIETIES

Among the existing varieties of almond trees which are known to me, andmentioned herein, are the Mission, Ne Plus, and Nonpareil (allunpatented); Merced U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,730); and Carmel U.S. PlantPat. No. 2,641). Reference is also made to the rootstocks Marianna andNemaguard (both unpatented).

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

In the conduct of my activities on the aforesaid ranch, the presentvariety of almond tree was discovered by me growing, on a border bank,as a chance seedling; my attention having initially been attracted tosuch chance seedling by reason of its heavy bloom, and which coincidedwith that of the Nonpareil. After its discovery, I maintained suchchance seedling under careful and continuing observation, and--uponrecognition of certain novel and distinctive characteristics thereof--Idetermined to asexually reproduce it as a potential commercial variety.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY

The present variety of almond tree was asexually reproduced--on mybehalf and by a commercial nursery--by June budding on Nemaguardrootstock, and, in maturity, such reproduction ran true to the originaltree (chance seedling) in all respects.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The present variety of almond tree is, characteristically, of mediumsize and vigor, open, and upright in branching habit; sparsely foliatedwith small, lanceolate, acutely pointed leaves having a finely serratemargin and alternate, reniform glands; blooms heavily with whiteflowers; and is a regular and heavy producer of medium size, ovate,medium hard, thin shell nuts having small, ovate kernels.

The present variety of almond tree is more particularly characterized bythe heavy bloom being in coincidence with that of the Nonpareil and avery effective pollenizer for the latter, resulting in the Nonpareilsetting extremely heavy crops of nuts.

The present variety of almond tree is further characterized, incomparison to Ne Plus, Nonpareil, Merced, and Carmel, by nuts having anextremely thin hull at green stage, and which hull is forty to fiftypercent thinner than said prior varieties. Such thin, green-stage hullis of substantial advantage as it permits the tree of the present varityto bear and withstand heavy nut yields without the usual stress on limbsas occurs with thicker hulled varieties.

The present variety of almond tree is still further characterized:

By nuts which have a paper thin hull at harvest, permitting fasterafter-rain drying, and ease of hulling;

By nuts having well-sealed shells--minimizing worm infestation anddamage; and

By nuts which hold well on the tree and yet knock with the ease of theCarmel and Ne Plus and regardless of weather conditions.

The present variety of almond tree--which is compatible with theMarianna rootstock--has generally similar growth characteristics of theMission, being very upright, and sparse of foliage with small leaves,but--in comparison--blooms and harvests much earlier, the nuts having athinner hull, knock much easier, and the shell is not as hard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing is an illustration, by photographic reproduction in color,of a twig with leaves, and attached nuts; separate out-of-hull nuts, onenut having the shell partially broken away to expose the kernel; andseparate out-of-shell kernels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The botanical details of this new and distinct variety of almondtree--with color definitions in common color terms--are as follows:

TREE

Density: Open.

Size: Medium.

Vigor: Medium.

TRUNK

Size: Stocky.

Texture: Medium.

BRANCHES

Size: Slender.

Texture: Medium.

Lenticels: Numerous; medium size.

Branching habit: Upright.

Color:

New wood.--Red. Dull.

Mature wood.--Red to brown. Dull.

FOLIAGE

Quantity: Sparse.

LEAVES

Size: Small.

Average length.--2".

Average width.--5/8".

Shape: Lanceolate; acutely pointed.

Thickness: Thin.

Texture: Smooth.

Margin: Finely serrate.

Petiole: Long: Slender.

Glands: Average number -- 4. Alternate. Small. Reniform. Red.- green.

Stipules: Wanting.

Color:

Top side.--Medium dark green.

Under side.--Medium light green.

BLOOM

Amount of bloom: Heavy.

Color: White.

Blooming period:

Date of first bloom.--Feb. 18, 1982 (pink Bud -- Feb. 27, 1982).

Date of full bloom.--Mar. 4, 1982. Coincides with Nonpareil, butslightly longer bloom period.

CROP

Bearing: Regular bearer.

Productivity: Heavy.

Distribution of nuts on tree: Well distributed.

Harvest period: Medium. Coincides with Merced, follows Ne Plus, beforeCarmel snd Mission.

Tenacity: Hangs well on tree. Very easy to harvest. Very easy to hull.

HULL

Outer surface: Smooth.

Pits: Wanting.

Form: Regular.

Thickness: Thin.

Flesh: Medium tough.

Suture: Flat depressed.

Color: Light green with a silvery sheen. Blushed with yellow color.

Dehiscence: Opens freely.

Splitting: Along suture.

NUT

Size: Medium.

Average length.--29 mm.

Average width.--19 mm.

Average thickness.--15 mm.

Average weight.--240 Nuts per pound.

Form:

Length/width.--Ovate.

Width/thickness.--Medium.

Shell: Medium hard. Thin. Smooth.

Outer shell: Firm to crumbling.

Inner shell: Hard. Well sealed.

Color: Medium light brown.

Pits: Small. Numerous. Deep. Irregular.

Base: Dorsally oblique.

Stem scar: Small. Obtuse.

Apex: Acute.

Wing: Narrow. Thin. Tapered toward apex.

Inner surface: Medium colored.

Ventral streak: Dark. Broad. Long. Point acute.

Percentage of kernel to nut: 59.4%.

KERNEL

Size: Small.

Average length.--22 mm.

Average width.--12 mm.

Average thickness.--9 mm.

Average weight.--28 Per ounce.

Form:

Length/width.--Ovate.

Width/thickness.--Medium.

Base: Ventrally oblique.

Stem Scar: Small.

Apex: Acute.

Texture: Wrinkled.

Pellicle: Thin.

Pubescence: Medium.

Color: Dark brown.

Number of doubles: Few.

Flavor: Normal.

Quality: Good.

The almond tree and its nuts herein described may vary in slight detaildue to climatic and soil conditions under which the variety may begrown; the present description being of the variety as grown in theCentral Valley of California.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of almond tree, substantially asillustrated and described, particularly characterized by heavy bloombefore Mission but coincident with Nonpareil; and by the regular andheavy production of medium hard shell, well sealed nuts which hold well,knock easily, and have an extremely thin hull at green stage and a paperthin hull at harvest; the harvest being before Carmel and Mission, withMerced, and after Ne Plus.